Dear Daniel,
Thank you for shedding light on the issue of learning differences by opening up that you have dyspraxia.
Am sure that any parent who has a child with dyspraxia or any other learning difference is going to be thrilled to read how you overcame some issues related to dyspraxia through playing Harry Potter.
Big Bro and Little Bro do not have dyspraxia but they do have other medical issues that sometimes present challenges for them.
Thank you for wearing glasses.
Thank you for making the statement that when you were asked what you would like to keep from your Harry Potter days, you said "the glasses"...perfect timing, as we had to pick up Big Bro's glasses this past weekend and were able to show him the clip from your interview.
You have managed to help Big Bro think that wearing glasses isn't as bad as he had thought it might be and that maybe having them is a good thing.
Big Bro was initially very upset at the notion of having to wear them...we showed him photos of you, small snippets of various Harry Potter movies scenes with you wearing your glasses, and then, we were able to point out how you were discovered and how much the director liked you when he saw you, presumably wearing glasses.
Big Bro did not end up getting Harry Potter glasses, but he did consider getting them...ultimately, he went for more rectangular ones.
The boys have not seen an entire Harry Potter movie, as they are so little and get scared at even G rated movies, but they have seen little snippets, their favorite being with you and your pet owl. They have asked many times if they can have an owl as a pet because of you having one for a pet in the movies.
They also have a few Harry Potter Lego sets, as they love building and were very excited about getting some Harry Potter Lego sets.
Am quite certain that they will be huge Harry Potter fans when they are truly old enough to grasp all of the books and the all of the movies.
Big Bro is still not entirely sold that it is cool for him to wear glasses, although with you wearing them, it has helped a great deal for him to adjust. He plans to write and mail you his own letter. Big Bro wants to ask you if you "actually think that wearing glasses is cool or if it is all an act".
He has it on his list of things he wants to do after we wrap up celebrating Thanksgiving here in the USA with family.
Thank you for playing a role where you do not quite fit in and yet, you are such a strong, smart, well loved character.
Thank you for making being a little bit of an odd one out the cool thing, as sometimes, they feel a little out due to being homeschooled, as well as due to some of their medical challenges.
Thank you for being larger than life to two little boys who have only seen a glimmer of you on the screen.
Here is the big thing of concern though about what we have read about you off screen...
We are very sad if it is true to hear that you supposedly have stated that in real life, you are an atheist.
We hope and pray that that is just a nasty rumor...
Hope that you actually have a belief system that includes embracing and accepting God in your life...
If you have yet to believe and accept God into your life, hope that you will find God, will grow to believe, love, and trust in Him, and will realize that life is complete with God, not without Him.
You have given so much to folks on screen. Hope that off screen, if the rumors are true and if you have not yet turned to God, that you will find a sense of deep Faith for your life, as faith carries you through, long after your movies have wrapped.
If you have been turned off for some reason to not believe in God, hopefully, you will reflect upon this and will turn towards God.
Faith will carry you so much longer than the wealth of the movie success of Harry Potter has carried you.
We will pray for you to have an enriched spiritual life off screen and hope that you will come to know the beauty, the enormity, and the reality of the goodness of God's love for you.
Additional Note:
About a week ago, I had published this post...then, I got two very nasty comments from two people who feel that Daniel is entitled to be an atheist. While he is entitled, it is a concern for me, as he has a huge influence over young people in the world and our family believes in God...
Had pulled the post, as I do not want to have to read any nasty comments right near the holiday season telling me that Daniel has every right to be an atheist...although he has the right to be an atheist, I just have to wonder how informed he is about religion, any religion in particular...how well versed he is in any particular faith to come to the sweeping decision that God does not exist for him.
It is not only sad if that is what he truly believes, but it is a bit disturbing in that so many young people look up to him as the person he appears to be on screen as Harry Potter.
Have thought about this a great deal and have decided to once again re-publish this post, as although many admire him for his role as Harry Potter, it concerns me that he has written off God in his life as a young person. Having a spiritual life, regardless of how that is interpreted for a person is important, as it means that your family has some sort of moral compass to follow...something that gives you a guide for how you live your life in an ethical way. I am not saying that Daniel should have the same sort of Christian value system that our family has, but just think that having a spiritual, religious sort of life is crucial regardless of how a person interprets that for themselves, whether one is Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or any other sort of religion.
It takes some people years to have a strong faith and it is a life long journey to have a relationship with God, so no disrespect to Daniel, but just hoping and praying that his heart will be turned and that he will come to have a belief system that includes God in his life.
Jody from Mommy Moment, thank you for your original supportive comment. When I deleted the original post after getting two out there nasty grams, I reconsidered, have re-posted this, but cannot pull up the nice comment you originally left...
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10 comments:
Well I am glad you republished it. This is your blog and you can post what you want to post.
Look at all the positive things you said, seems like a caring post to me. One of concern and admiration!
And once again...I LOVE Big Bro's glasses! Such a handsome boy!
Jody
Everyone is welcome to their opinion. Daniel being athiest ...you a christian. We are all supposed to respect our difference and when they're different meditation or prayer or discussion are acceptable.
The thing you have to remember about opinions is sometimes they belong to those who are simply buttholes. Use that delete button. After all....it IS your blog.
I think you are fine as long as you don't attack him and I think you were respectful ...
By the way...I LOVE jk rowling and it's nice to see another christian family not saying HP is devilish. My kids have only seen a few movies as they can be too scary. I can't wait for them to see them. We're reading them next year.
Honey
My computer is down and I am on a borrowed one, but when I got your feed with this post, I had to click over to say I am so glad you decided to repost this with your editorial comments. Too often, folks try to eliminate any trace of their belief systems from their blogs and I so appreciate when people stand firm in their faith - whatever their faith may be. Also, you have done exactly what a reading/meditation I read this morning suggested doing -- making an external effort to demonstrate faith. Thank you for encouraging me to do the same through your strength.
I too am so glad that you reposted it.
What a wonderful post -- filled with optimism, for your boys and for Daniel! I am so glad that you reposted. When I initially read the post, I didn't read anything negative into it, and goodness, you are saying you are praying for him! Faith is such an integral part of your life, and ours!
I truly respect your post, and I'm so sorry that you got nasty comments before. I think we each have our own spiritual path to follow, and they can be very different. I think sometimes it can be hard for those of us who don't subscribe to the Christian notion of God, or any notion of God to see someone being viewed as a bad role model just because they are an atheist. Not worshipping a diety of any type doesn't change the fact that I'm kind, loving, and full of goodness; I consider myself to be a pretty good role model!
I guess it's just hard, and even really sad, to see someone looking down on your beliefs (or lack of them!) no matter how nicely it's put.
That hurt certainly doesn't excuse rude behavior in return, of course.
I just wanted to say that Daniel does have a very good knowledge about religion. He studied it for two or more years and chose it for his A Levels exams, which he brilliantly passed. He thought the subject was very interesting, because it played such an important part in History.
And him being an atheist is not just a rumour, he said it himself in an interview, years ago - I could even find it for you if you want to hear it for yourself. Both his parents are as well, and he will probably never change.
He is a bit too grounded to evolve in a world where he is a superstar and still believes in god ... He's entitled to his opinion, and is very, very happy with it.
Him being an atheist if far from being ignorant or too young, and lost. He just chose not to believe, and even though he is very interested in religion as a school and history subject, he doesn't have to believe in anything to succeed in everything he does and change lives.
I just wanted to say that Daniel does have a very good knowledge about religion. He studied it for two or more years and chose it for his A Levels exams, which he brilliantly passed. He thought the subject was very interesting, because it played such an important part in History.
And him being an atheist is not just a rumour, he said it himself in an interview, years ago - I could even find it for you if you want to hear it for yourself. Both his parents are as well, and he will probably never change.
He is a bit too grounded to evolve in a world where he is a superstar and still believes in god ... He's entitled to his opinion, and is very, very happy with it.
Him being an atheist if far from being ignorant or too young, and lost. He just chose not to believe, and even though he is very interested in religion as a school and history subject, he doesn't have to believe in anything to succeed in everything he does and change lives.
Normally, I will not publish a comment that comes in as Anonymous, because I have been taught that if you have something to say, you should be willing to put your name out there to say that you are firm in your convictions, but since you were at least respectful in sharing your take on Daniel Radcliffe and his right to be an atheist, I have published this comment. At least if he studied religion in school, he must have at least given it some thought. But much beyond that, we
will just have to agree to disagree. Have yet to see how an atheist can have a moral compass if they do not have an intrinsic belief system that includes any sort of God, any sort of spiritual life, etc.
Where does a moral compass come from for an atheist like Daniel then? The laws of the country? Is it then left up to the legislators to be the moral compass for an atheist? So, if a law doesn't specifically exist, then is it fair game for an atheist to go ahead and give something a try, as why not...it is not illegal?
Where do compassion and kindness come in? People are not legally bound to be compassionate or to be kind...
I agree that he has every right to do anything or in his case, to not believe in anything that he wants to, but to me, when so many young children look up to him, if he stands up for denouncing God, then that is not something that I would want my children to emulate. Will continue to pray that he will have a change of heart in his life and will come to know God and to see there there is so much more to life if you have a spiritual life.
It is not up for me to judge him or others, whether they are self proclaimed atheists, etc. but it is up to me to choose whether or not to let him have any sort of influence over my young sons as far as watching his movies in the future, etc.
I believe that people are entitled to their own opinions, but as a mom to my children, it is my duty to not only try to give them life experiences that will help them to grow to have a better understanding of the world and its people, to grow in compassion and kindness, as well as to see the beauty and love of God, and the power of prayer for the good of humankind, not for its destruction.
I appreciate this discourse, as truthfully, the whole concept of being an atheist is something that I have not reflected upon, but the more that I do, it seems counter-intuitive if a self proclaimed atheist who has taken a stand by denouncing God then has to rely upon legislators for their extrinsic moral compass, instead of having an intrinsic system of faith that is their guiding light in their lives.
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